News Releases

Southern Research Institute Announces Fall 2005 Excellence in Performance Winners

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (November 14, 2005) - Southern Research Institute today announced that Ann Billingsley, Tim Hansen, Edie Druktenis and Clay Osterling have been selected as the Fall 2005 recipients of the Southern Research Institute Excellence in Performance Awards. The award, now in its third year, allows Southern Research employees to nominate colleagues whom they feel deserve special recognition for their scientific, technical or professional contributions.

"It is the commitment to excellence shown by people such as these that has allowed Southern Research to grow and achieve outstanding results in both technical areas and business process functions," said Robert L. McClure, vice president of Human Resources and Administrative Services at Southern Research. "The Excellence in Performance awards encourages co-workers and supervisors to acknowledge those who are making meaningful contributions. It's a way to say that someone has indeed noticed how valuable you are to the organization."

• Ann Billingsley, Advanced Marketing Specialist in Birmingham, was recognized for Process Excellence. Billingsley handles a myriad of responsibilities, from supervising the in-house copy and graphics center, to coordinating and organizing the numerous trade shows and scientific conferences Southern Research participates in each year. She is also performing an integral role in the roll-out of the Institute's new document management system.
• Edie Druktenis, Operations Specialist in the Infectious Disease Research Group in Frederick, Md., was also recognized for Process Excellence. Druktenis is responsible for most of the Human Resources duties in the Frederick office, but has also immersed herself in the complex world of Good Laboratory Practices, validation of scientific equipment, writing Standard Operating Procedures and maintaining training records.
• Clay Osterling, Research Biologist in the Infectious Disease Research Group in Frederick, Md., was recognized for Technical Excellence. Osterling improved upon the development of the Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell assay which allows scientists to rapidly process drug compound efficacy and toxicity assays with concise data translation. His peers also consider him a 'trouble-shooter' in performing cell-based assays.
• Tim Hansen, Senior Project Leader in the Environment and Energy Operations Group in Research Triangle Park, NC, was also recognized for Technical Excellence. After only 2-1/2 years with Southern Research, Hansen assumed major RTP management responsibilities and is credited for developing a Greenhouse Gas Technology Center privatization plan and improving business development opportunities for the North Carolina group.

Each selected individual was presented a $1,000 award, and their names were placed on a plaque recognizing past honorees. Each of the winners will also receive individual commemorative plaques to be presented at a luncheon with their work groups.

About Southern Research Institute
Southern Research Institute is an independent, not-for-profit center for scientific research with a staff of more than 600 scientists, technicians, and staff support personnel. With facilities in Birmingham, Ala., Frederick, Md., Research Triangle Park, NC, and Pensacola, Fla., Southern Research provides contract research in the fields of engineering, environmental and energy-related research, and pre-clinical drug discovery and drug development. For more information, visit www.southernresearch.org or call 1-800-967-6774.

MEDIA CONTACT: Rhonda Jung, 205-581-2317 or 205-337-9634, jung@southernresearch.org